
Microcline is a mineral series in the feldspar group. Amazonite is a light green to greenish blue variety of Microcline. Sometimes falsely referred to as Colorado jade or Pike’s Peak jade, it often has grid-like white streaks and a faint sheen.
Gemological Information for Microcline
Color: | Light Green, Greenish Blue |
Crystal Structure: | Triclinic |
Refractive Index: | 1.522 to 1.530 |
Durability: | Poor |
Hardness: | 6 to 6.5 |
Family: | Feldspar |
Similar Stones: | Aventurine Quartz, Chalcedony, Turquoise |
Treatments: | Wax Impregnation, Irradiation |
Country of Origin: | Brazil, Madagascar, Norway, US, Russia |
Microcline Care
Ultrasonic Cleaning: | Never |
Steam Cleaning: | Never |
Warm Soapy Water: | Never |
Chemical Attack: | Hydrofluoric Acid Attacks Quickly. Impurities May React to Other Acids |
Light Sensitivity: | Stable |
Heat Sensitivity: | Can Crack, Fade and Cleave |
Sources
- Gem Reference Guide, Los Angeles: Gemological Institute of America, 1988. Pp. 101-107.
- Newman, Harold. An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1981. Pp. 122.
- Schumann, Walter. Gemstones of the World, New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., 1977. Pp. 164-167.